Companies in Qatar will definitely benefit from the $28.7bn (QR105bn) North Field LNG Expansion Project, HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi said on Monday.

“The project we signed today is a very large scale one. This project is of huge capacity and capability, which is not available locally, of course. This is a very specialised area that needs very capable engineering construction firms,” al-Kaabi said in reply to a question by Gulf Times at a virtual media briefing.

Qatar Petroleum yesterday signed the project’s key onshore engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with the Chiyoda and Technip joint venture.

In relation to the project’s impact on the local companies, the minister said, “We are asking a lot of the companies to bring their engineering as much as possible into Qatar…bring training and development into Qatar and also use lot of sub contractors who are available in Qatar.”

Al-Kaabi, who is also the president and CEO of QP said, “The size that I have mentioned - QR105bn project – is over the next five to six years, and when you put North Field South Project (NFS), into that, it could be a seven year or eight year project. This entails, of course, having some 65,000 workers come to Qatar – a lot of engineers, a lot of sub contractors will be required for a lot of work in different areas – in logistics and civil and so on. So, it will be a very good development-engine, I guess, for lot of the private sector.”

Al-Kaabi noted, “This is beautifully timed I think, because of the winding down of the construction and development for 2022 (FIFA World Cup) …it is really coming to a close. For us in the energy industry to pick it up and have a project of this size will be a good thing for the economy.”

The minister emphasised that “Tawteen and having localisation is very important for us.

“It is something that we have in all our tenders and in all our systems – but this specifically is a little bit different…but definitely the businesses will benefit from the Chiyoda and Technip joint venture and all the other businesses that will come with it, and others in other contracts.

Tawteen is the "Supply Chain Localisation Programme" for the country’s energy sector led by QP with the participation of all the other companies operating in this sector.

The programme consists of three key pillars and these are new investment opportunities, supplier development initiatives and a new In-Country Value (ICV) policy.

The primary objectives of Tawteen are supporting the realisation of the Qatar National Vision 2030 by attracting companies engaged in knowledge and technology-based businesses, establishing sustainable and competitive in-country suppliers to meet the requirements of Qatar’s energy sector and supporting the growth and diversification of Qatar’s economy.